Page 27 of Kissing the Sheriff
Conrad sighed as he realized the captain cared for Cassie. In fact, he cared for everyone in Apple Blossom, except maybe Agnes, though he suspected that in a pinch, the captain would come through for the “old sea hag.” “I understand you perfectly. Now, shall we load the apples?”
Captain Stanley brought the wagon to a stop. “Aye!”
* * *
The next morning,Cassie left early, so she didn’t get a chance to speak with Conrad. They’d agreed last night to take Billy fishing after their work on the house. She didn’t see a need to wait for him this morning.
But when she returned home late that afternoon, there was no sign of either one. “Conrad?” she called as she went upstairs. The landing and her room were empty. “Where can they be?”
She returned downstairs, put some cookies she’d baked the night before in a sack, then wondered if she should make something for dinner. Maybe they’d changed their minds or Billy wasn’t allowed to go.
She left the sack on the table, went back upstairs and changed her clothes, deciding she could fish by herself. But by the time she went back to the kitchen, Conrad was sitting at the table wearing a silly grin. “Where did you come from?”
“The hotel. Billy ran home to get the poles.” He patted the picnic basket. “Dora was kind enough to make us dinner.”
Cassie smiled as she looked at the basket. “How nice. What’s in it?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t the foggiest. Won’t it be fun to find out?”
She pulled out a chair and sat. “Do you like surprises?”
“Love them. So long as it’s not snakes in my bed or grasshoppers in my pillowcase. Phileas did things like that when we were growing up. Not a pretty sight.”
Cassie laughed. “I imagine not. Sounds like Phileas was the mischievous child in the lot.”
“Heavens, no.” He grinned. “We all were. Sterling was the worst. Best not tell Letty.”
She covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. “You’ll have to tell me more.”
Before he could respond, Billy burst through the back door. “I got the poles! They’re outside!”
“Good, and you’re sure this is okay with your mother?” Conrad asked.
“She said so last night, didn’t she?” Billy rolled his eyes. “You worry too much.” He saw the basket. “What’s that?”
“Dinner.” Conrad waggled his eyebrows.
Billy held up a sack. “I have dinner.” He held it close to his chest. “Mydinner.”
Cassie and Conrad laughed. “Don’t worry,” Cassie said. “Neither of us is going to eat yours. Not when we have whatever this is.” She looked worriedly at Conrad. “Can’t we take a peek?”
He covered the basket protectively. “No. It would spoil the surprise. But we’d better be careful while we carry it. I don’t want any glass breaking.”
“It’s not as if we’re going to swing it around,” she said. “Billy’s right – you do worry too much.” She left the table to fetch the sack of cookies. “I have dessert. But I’m beginning to wonder if we need it.”
“Is it cookies?” Billy asked.
“Yes.”
He smiled. “Then we need it!” He left the kitchen, probably to fetch the poles.
“We should go,” she said.
Conrad’s expression softened. “You sound tired.”
She looked at the floor. His voice was low and sent a tingle up her spine. “I am. Maybe it’s from picking apples last night.” She rubbed her lower back.
“Then you shouldn’t climb trees,” he commented dryly. He took the basket and motioned toward the back door. “Shall we?”
